Lophophora koehresii f. variegata
Lophophora koehresii f. variegata is a rare variegated form of Lophophora koehresii, a soft-bodied, spineless button cactus from the Lophophora genus, native to San Luis Potosí in north-central Mexico. Unlike the plain green wild species, this form carries a genetic variegation that erases chlorophyll from parts of the plant, leaving cream, yellow, pink or orange sectors scattered across its low, narrow-tubercled body. Because variegated tissue cannot photosynthesise, plants of this form are prized by collectors but noticeably slower and more delicate than the parent species.
Description
Like typical Lophophora koehresii, this form makes a small, flattened, grey-green to green button divided into low, rather soft ribs broken up into narrow, elongated tubercles — a finer, more sharply defined pattern than the broad ribs of common peyote. A tuft of woolly hair sits at the crown, and small pale flowers (usually whitish to faintly pink, often with a darker midstripe) open from the wool in the growing season.
What sets the variegated form apart is colour. Sectors of the body lack normal green pigment and instead show through as cream, yellow, blush-pink or orange, following the tubercles in irregular patches, wedges or bands. The extent of variegation varies from plant to plant and can shift as the plant grows: some individuals are lightly marbled, while others carry large bright sectors. Heavily variegated plants — those with little green tissue left — are the most striking but also the weakest, because they have less chlorophyll to feed on.
Cultivation
Care follows the parent species; see Lophophora koehresii and the Lophophora genus page for the essentials. In short, grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, water sparingly and only once the soil has dried, and keep it dry and cool through winter. Like all Lophophora, it has a stout taproot and resents sitting wet, so a snug pot and careful watering matter more than anything.
A few points are specific to the variegated form:
- More light, gently — with less chlorophyll to work with, variegated plants often colour up and stay compact under bright light, but the pale sectors can scorch in fierce direct sun, so aim for bright but slightly filtered conditions and acclimatise gradually.
- Slower and softer — expect slower growth and be conservative with water, as pale tissue is more prone to rot than solid green tissue.
- Grafting — because strongly variegated seedlings grow slowly on their own roots, many growers speed them up (or rescue nearly chlorophyll-free plants) by grafting onto a vigorous rootstock such as Myrtillocactus or a Trichocereus. Grafted plants grow faster and often variegate more freely, and can later be rooted on their own if enough green tissue is present.
Variegation here is a somatic, non-Mendelian trait, so it is not reliably passed on by seed; the form is usually maintained by selecting and propagating variegated individuals, frequently via grafting rather than cuttings.
Legal status
Lophophora koehresii, like the rest of the genus, is listed under CITES Appendix II, so international trade in plants and seed is regulated regardless of the low mescaline content reported for this species relative to Lophophora williamsii. In several jurisdictions Lophophora plants are additionally caught by peyote-related controls that were written around L. williamsii but are worded broadly enough to cover the whole genus. Rules vary widely from country to country and between states or provinces, and can apply to living plants, seed or both.
Prospective growers should check the laws that apply where they live before acquiring or trading these plants. This article is a horticultural reference only and does not describe or endorse any non-ornamental use.
See also
- Lophophora koehresii — the parent species
- Lophophora — the genus overview
- Lophophora williamsii — the better-known relative
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Pests and diseases